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Salt River Fields…Of Dreams it Seems

2/1/11

Two Tribes, Two Teams, One Home….The opening of a new stadium.

This is what you get when you partner the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian community with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies. This partnership has resulted in what’s known as Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Salt River Fields is the first Major League Baseball spring training facility to be constructed on Indian land. The stadium has an 11,000 seat capacity including the grass berm in the outfield.

Surrounding this beautiful stadium are 12 practice fields.Scattered throughout the grounds are other buildings that will house Major and Minor league clubhouses, training facilities and offices for the Rockies and the Diamondbacks.

Entering the Stadium from the Rockies Clubhouse.

Main Gate entrance behind home plate.

Here are a few things of note about Salt River Fields

Tailgating is not permitted in any Salt River Fields operated parking lot. Persons may not consume alcohol in the parking lots, including inside their vehicles.

Salt River Fields regulations allow only soft-sided bags and containers 16″x16″x8″ or smaller to be permitted in the gates

The Centerfield Gate, which is located on the eastern part of the main stadium, will open 2 hours and 40 minutes prior to game time for Guests who want to view batting practice. The remaining gates will open 2 hour and 10 minutes prior to game time.

During the games, Guests are permitted to leave the ballpark and return through any of the four entrance gates. Please see the gate supervisor to have your hand and ticket stub stamped. When returning to the ballpark, Guests must show their ticket stub and hand stamp, and should re-enter through a special pass-out gate at each of the entrance gates.

There are 3000 parking spaces on site and parking is $5.00.

Permitted Items:

• One (1) Factory-Sealed Bottle of Water, Per Person. No larger than one (1) liter in size.

• Purses / Diaper Bags / Personal Medical Bags.

• Still / Video Cameras. Video cameras are permitted as long as live game action is not recorded.

• Binoculars.

• Baseball Bats for the purpose of autographs. Bats must be stored under seats once the game begins. No aluminum bats,

• Plastic baby bottles or any necessary items required for medical purposes or other special needs.

Prohibited Items:

• No Outside Food or Beverages. Except as provided under permitted items. No Illegal Drugs

• No Weapons / FireworksNo Glass Bottles / Aluminum Cans

• No Hard-Sided Coolers / Containers, Regardless of Size

• No Camera Tri, Dual or Single Leg Pods by Non-Media Personnel

• No Fish Nets / Poles / Umbrellas / Signs Attached to Sticks

• No Bullhorns / Noisemakers / Confetti

• No Animals. Except service dogs for guests with disabilities are permitted.

• No Beach Balls / Balloons / Inflatables

• No Skateboards / Rollerblades / Shoes with Wheels

• No Unauthorized Motor Vehicles / Mobility Devices

• No Stools / Folding Chairs

• No Squirt Guns / Bubble-Making Liquids

• No Laser Pointers

• Other Items Not Specified on this List as Deemed Prohibited by Management

From a baseball fans point of view the opening of a new stadium comes with a lot of firsts…Such as:

First fan to enter the gates.

First fan to catch a batting practice homerun.

First fan to catch a batting practice foul ball.

First fan to get a batting practice ball tossed to them.

First autograph inside the stadium.

First live game homerun snag or catch.

First live game foul ball snag or catch.

First ground rule double snag or catch.

First live game toss-up (ie. 3rd out toss-up).

Not to mention…The first pitch, first steal, first homerun, first single, double, first triple, first walk, first bunt, first hit batsmen, first out, first double play, first walk-off homerun…

You get my point the list goes on.

Everything is a first during the first game of a new stadium. Someone has their mind set on devouring the first foot long brat and some eager fan will take pride in knowing he purchased the first beer poured in Salt River Fields.

I couldn’t think of a better time to debut a “New Dinger”?

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is a giant step-up from Hi-Corbett Field in every aspect. The whole “new ballpark” experience should be a positive buzz for the Rockies and will hopefully spill into the regular season. It would be nice to get through April with a winning record.

The Rockies season begins at Salt River Fields on February 26, 2011 against the Diamondbacks at 1:10. Only 11,000 people will witness this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I’m “D” The Rockpile Ranter…First in my Tulo’s eyes and maybe one the first to open this new stadium…Stay Tuned…D

3 Comments

Hey D,
A little behind on my posts, please see my post for your last entry.
OMG, I was hoping to make it to Spring Training but not sure if I can now. What are your dates for being there? Really, really want to be down there. After talking to Robert about being there for the 1st Home Run ball caught I just got to figure out how I’m going to get to at least a game or two in the new facility. Let me know so that I can try and be there to.

I sure wish I were down in Scottsdale now as it is a wee bit chilly here in Longmont. I hope that this new training facility Salt River Fields at Talking Stick provides the means for the Rockies to have some TALKING STICKS at Coors Field this summer! Not sure if I will get down there this year, but will make it someday.

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